Manufacture of bliss boxes



0 1- t United States 'atent [72] Inventor Robert S. Goodrich El Segundo, California [21] Appl. No. 687,301 [22] Filed Dec. 1, 1967 [45] Patented Nov. 24, 1970 [73] Assignee Weyerhaeuser Company Tacoma, Washington a corporation of Washington [54] MANUFACTURE OF BLISS BOXES 13 Claims, 28 Drawing Figs.

52] u.s.c1 93/51,

93/49, 93/59; 118/3, 118/410: 271/59. 271/61 511 mm B3lb1/44 so] FieldofSearch.... ....93/49,49.1,

3,068,760 12/1962 Gross ABSTRACT: A machine and method for continuously producing Bliss boxes from preformed end wall and body blanks. A portable compact framework has a pair of end wall blank magazines positioned at opposite ends of a forming station to which main body blanks are conveyed along a central conveyor means. Flaps of the main body blank are automatically striped with hot melt adhesive during passage along the central conveyor means. A mandrel mechanism overlying the forming station simultaneously thrusts a main body blank and a pair of end wall blanks into the forming station to effect folding of the sides of the main body blank about the edges of the end wall blanks and to fold the glue-coated flaps into adhesive contact'with the end walls. A plurality of camming devices are employed within the forming station to effect the folding of the main body sidewalls and of the glue-coated flaps. After formation of the box and upon withdrawal of the mandrel, stripper means within the forming station hold the completed box during withdrawal of the mandrel to release the box for dropping by gravity onto a conveyor. The machine is adjustable to accommodate not only various thicknesses of the box material but also various sizes of box blanks.

Patented Nov, 24, 1970 Sheet 1 of 7 I N VE N TOR ,oafer 5 50006/66 M, M W

A rrae NE y Patente Nav. 24, 1970 Sheet Q of? INVEN'TO fa $55,675 60002/64/ Sheet Rm m atented Nov. 2, 19%

INVENTOR fiameriwe/a/ ArrmeA/ii-s INVENTOR. foals/27' 5 fimae/cw Sheet Patented Nov. 24, 1970 Patented Nev. 24, 1970 Sheet 11 fioiier 5 Game/c INVENTOR.

' 30x amwe MANUFACTURE OF BLISS BOXES This invention pertains to the art of manufacturing cardboard boxes of the Bliss type.

A variety of Bliss box-forming machines have heretofore been devised and come into use and these are generally of the type allowing adjustment .of the several parts in order to accommodate different box sizes. The known machines are large and complex, involving valved pneumatic devices, and are difficult of adjustment, both as regards the accommodation of different box. sizes and different thicknesses of box board. These machines also have the disadvantage of utilizing adhesive systems requiring a cold set and, therefore, a slow box production cycle. The prior machines are also generally defective in the manner of holding down a body blank, sometimes employing pressure devices which may injure or even crush the body blank. A major defect of previously known devices of this character is that they employ complex mandrel mechanisms that expand and retract, which may be unreliable in operation and, moreover, may be extremely difficult of adjustment to accommodate different box sizes.

The present invention overcomes the above problems and provides a light and simplified box-making machine in which the several mechanisms are mechanically synchronized so as to achieve a positive mode of operation at all of the several stations of manipulation in the machine. The machine employs end panel magazines which are foldable for transportation of the machine from place or from one packing plant to another as a compact unit.

The machine is readily adjusted to accommodate various sizes of body blanks merely by adjusting the span between an elongated pair of edge guide members. By this single adjustment. the machine is adapted to handle a given size of body blank in a supply bin, in a glue application station and in the box-forming station as well.

This machine uses a hot melt adhesive system in which the adhesive is delivered from self-contained pressure feed units which are self-opening and closing by coming into and out of contact with the flaps of the body blanks to be glued. Rather than delivering the adhesive in a single line, the adhesive system of this invention employs novel applicators with multiple applicator balls capable of applying adhesive in single or multiple line patterns.

Additionally,. this machine eliminates reliance on heavy pressure rollers as hold down devices for body blanks, which tend to deform or crush the blank. This invention incorporates a novel form of gravitationally biased hold downv bars for firmly biasing theblank into smooth, sliding contact with the supporting rails, which biasing means is also arranged-and adapted to serve as an element of the means for indexing a body blank above the forming station, in a positive manner and without rebounding ofa blank.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a presently preferred embodiment thereof when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic flow diagram indicating steps in a process of the manufacture of boxes with the present inventron;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view ofa boxmaking machine incorporating my invention;

FIG. 2a is a sectional view taken on the line 2a-2a of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a partial, elevational view of one end of the conveyor illustrated in FIG. 2, on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the machine illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial elevational view taken in the direction of the arrow 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the-line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7a is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, ofa portion of FIG. 7;

FIG. 8 is a top, plan view of the machine of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing details of construction of the mandrel mechanism taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 10-10 of FIG. 9 and showing details ofa mandrel plate assembly;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view on the line 11-11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 11a is a partial plan view taken on the line Ila-11a of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of the glue applicators of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view on the line 13-13 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view on the line 14-14 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view on the line 15-15 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken on the line 16-16 of FIG.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the lower end of the applicator nozzle shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 17a is a sectionalview. on an enlarged scale, of an alternate form of ball head glue applicator;

FIG. 17b is a sectional view on the line 1712-17!) of FIG. 18; FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken on the line 13-18 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 19 is a partial elevational view taken on the line 19-19 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken on the line 20-20 of FIG.

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary top plan view of one of the end blank magazines shown in FIG. 4, on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 22 is a sectional view taken on the line 22-22 of FIG.

21; and

FIG. 23 is a sectional view taken on the line 23-23 of FIG. 22.

The generalized structure of a Bliss box is well known in the trade and, accordingly, need not be described in detail. Suffice it to say that, as indicated in FIG. 1, each box is formed from a main body blank 10 and a pair of end wall blanks 11. The main body blank 10 comprises a bottom panel 12 that is flanked along opposite longitudinal edges by a pair of side panels 13. At opposite ends of the bottom panel 12 the blank is formed with a pair of end flaps l4 and each of the side panels 13 is similarly formed at opposite ends with a pair of side flaps 15. It will, of course, be understood that the side panels 13 are hingedly interconnected to the bottom panel 12 and that the flaps 14 and 15 are hingedly interconnected to their corresponding panels as by scoring, creasing, or otherwise treating the body blank-Similarly, it will also be understood that the end wall panels 11 are sized to fit within the folded body blank 10, the end panels having a bottom edge 16 of a length corresponding to the width ofa bottom panel 12 and having vertical edges 17 that are usually of the same length as the width of the side panels 13.

FIG. 1 schematically and generally indicates the steps in the process of making a Bliss box. Thus, at a station A a main body blank 10 is fed from beneath of a supply stack of blanks by a conveyor means 20. Immediately adjacent the supply stack of main body blanks a pair of hot glue-dispensing means 21 are positioned at a station B in alinement with the flaps 14 and 15 of theblank 10, the dispensing means 21 also serving as a hold downmeans for each blank passing thereunder. The conveyor means 20 moves the body blank 10 throughthe gluing station and into contact with an indexing means 22 which arrests the body blank 10 in a forming position, at a station C, and with opposite ends of the bottom panel 12 in alinement with lower edges 16 of a waiting pair of end wall blanks 11. A vertically reciprocable mandrel mechanism then moves both end wall blanks 11 and the main body blank 10 downwardly for engagement with folding rollers 23 which fold the side panels 13 upwardly and into engagement with the vertical edges 17 of the pair of end wall blanks 11. The glued flaps 14 and 15 are also folded inwardly to be adhesively engaged with the outer surfaces of the end wall blanks 11. The completed box is then stripped from the mandrel as the mandrel withdraws from the forming station D whereby the completed box drops by gravity onto a waiting conveyor means.

The generalized process just described is carried out in its entirety in the portable machine shown in FIG. 2. The machine comprises an elongated, rigid framework 25 equipped with caster wheels 26, for moving the machine from place to place, and also equipped with leveling screws 27. At one end of the machine the framework 25 mounts an electric motor 28 which provides the power for actuation of all of the several parts of the machine, except for the end panel conveyors. Adjacent that end of the machine opposite to the end at which the motor 28 is mounted the framework 25 includes a superstructure or framework indicated generally at 29 in which a mandrel means 30 is supported. Referring to FIG. 8, it will be seen that the machine when in operational configuration is somewhat cruciform or T-shaped in plan form with a pair of end panel magazines 39 situated at opposite sides of the superstructure for supplying end wall blanks 11 in the forming station. Beneath the mandrel means 30, one end of a belt conveyor 31 is detachably connected to the framework 25 to receive the fully-formed Bliss boxes as they drop off the mandrel and to convey them away from the machine.

More specifically, referring to FIG. 8, the framework 25 includes rigidly interconnected, longitudinally extending side members 33 and opposite end members 34 defining the top of the framework 25. Adjustably secured to this top of the framework 25 are an elongated pair of angle iron members 36, which serve as edge guides for the blanks 10, each of which extends from one end to the other of the framework. Thus, each end member 34 is formed with an elongated pair of slots 37 in registration with a fastener means 28 extending through each end of each angle iron member 36 whereby the pair of members 36 maybe adjusted as to width, and in precise parallelism equally spaced on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the top of the framework 25. The pair of members 36 support not only certain members defining a supply bin for main body blanks and the glue dispensers, but also certain elements utilized in the folding of the box elements underneath the mandrel. Accordingly, the single adjustment of the pair of members 36 will accommodate the machine to various sizes of box blanks at several of the different stations of the machine.

A bin structure for receiving a vertical stack of main body blanks is indicated generally by the numeral 40, positioned at that end of the frameworkZS over the motor 28. The conveyor means is positioned along the longitudinal axis of the framework and is adapted to carry individual main body blanks 10 from the bin structure 40 and past the hot glue applicator means 21. Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the motor 28 has an output shaft 41 that terminates within a gear box 42. This gear box, in turn, has an output shaft 43 at 90 to the axis ofthe shaft 41 to drivably mount a sprocket 44 in driving engagement with an endless chain 45 which carries a plura lity of detachable drive lugs 46. An upper, horizontally disposed flight of the chain 45 is carried by a pair of sprockets 47, one of which is disposed at the rear end of the framework 25 and the other of which is positioned at the opposite side of the glue means 21 from the bin 40. As is shown in FIG. 8, the conveyor means is positioned along the longitudinal axis of the framework 25 and the upper flight of the chain 45 .is between a parallel pair of rails 48 along which individual main body blanks 10 are slid from the bin 40 through the gluing station when engaged by one ofthe lugs 46 ofthe chain 45.

The bin 40 includes a vertically disposed wall 50 on one side which has its lower edge rigidly secured to the corresponding member 36 and in the same vertical plane as the vertical flange of the angle iron member. The opposite side of the bin, on the operators side, is defined by a sheet metal member of generally L-shaped configuration having a horizontally disposed shelf51 and a vertically disposed flange 52, the latter also being disposed in the same vertical plane as the vertical flange of the corresponding member 36. Thus, the vertical faces of the member 50 and of the vertical flange 52 constitute opposite edge guides for a body blank 10, as do the vertical flanges of the angle iron members 36. The pair of angle iron members 36 also support a pair of elongated rail members 53 on which opposite edges of a body blank 10 are supported for sliding from the bin 40 through the gluing station. As is shown in FIG. 8, each of the rails 53 is secured, as by welding. to one of the members 36 and they are of sufficient length to fully support edge portions ofa body blank 10 within the bin 44 and to carry the same past the glue applicator means 21.

The forward wall ofthe bin structure 4b is defined by a plate 55 that is vertically adjustably secured along the longitudinal axis of the machine. As is shown in FIG. 2a, this plate is mounted on a rigid frame 56, extending transversely of the framework 25, by means of screw fasteners 57 passing through vertically elongated slots in the frame 56. A lower edge of the plate 55 defines a gap with respect to the pair of rails 43 and it is the size of this gap which may be adjusted by means of the setscrews 57 in order to accommodate various thicknesses of body blank 10. It will be understood that this gap is adjusted to permit the passage of only one body blank it? at a time from the storage bin 40.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that as a body blank 10 passes through the gluing station, the flaps 1d and E5 on both edges of the blank have their upwardly disposed surfaces passing under the pair of glue applicators 21. These applicators are self-opening and closing by coming into and out of contact with the flaps 14 and 15 and are adapted to deliver hot glue laid out in a plurality of stripes on each of these flaps. As the pair of applicators 21 are identical in construction and mode of operatiombut one of them will be described in detail.

Referring to FIG. 8, it will be seen that each of the applicators 21 is rigidly affixed to a bracket 59 that, in turn, is rigidly affixed to one of the pair of laterally adjustable members 36. Referring to FIG. 12,21 glue applicator 21 includes a body 60 that incorporates a reservoir 61 and a separate chamber 62 that are intercommunicated by passage means 63. Disposed within the passage means 63 is a gear pump 64 drivably mounted on a shaft 65 that protrudes through one side of the body and is drivably connected to a sprocket 66. As is shown in FIG. 2, the sprocket 66 is drivably interconnected to another sprocket 67 by means ofa chain 68 and a belt and pul' ley means 69 drivably interconnects the sprocket 67 to the shaft 43 of the gear box 42. By this means the glue applicator 21 pumps the glue through the applicator from the same source of power which drives the conveyor means 24).

The glue may be supplied to the applicator 20 in stick or granular or other forms through a cylinder 71 that is mounted on top of the body and with its lower end in communication with the chamber 62. Immediately beneath this chamber, the body 60 is formed through one end with a pair of blind bores 72 that are adapted to receive a pair of electrical resistance heating elements 73 and a third bore 74 adapted to receive a thermostat 75. Accordingly, when the heating elements 73 are electrically energized the solid glue material is liquified for delivery by the gear pump 64 to the reservoir 61 thence to be delivered upon demand through a nozzle structure indicated generally at 76.

The nozzle 76 comprises a plate 77 and a nose piece 78 that mounts a plurality of applicator balls 79. In the illustrated embodiment, four of the applicator balls 79 are employed, each of which is disposed within a vertically-extending bore fit) formed in the nose piece 78, the lower end of the bore being provided with a seat 81 for the corresponding ball. Each ball 79 is normally biased downwardly into a closed position on its seat 81 by a spring 82 contained in the passage 80.

As is shown in FIG. 15, the plate 77 is formed with a plurality of bores 83 extending therethrough, staggered in the manner shown in the figure. As is shown in FIG. 16, the passages are also in staggered relationship to one another and in a pattern such that each passage 86 at its upper end has communication with three of the bores 83 through the plate 77.

Referring to FIG. 17, the nozzle 76 of the applicator 21 is positioned in opposition to a track 53 but with insufficient clearance to allow passage therethrough of a flap 14 or 15 without effecting raising of the balls 79 slightly from its seat 81. Thus, upon a flap 14, for example, passing between the ball 79 and track 53 the depression of the ball opens the port whereby the glue under the pressure of the gear pump 64 is ejected in the form of a stripe rolled out onto the surface of the flap by the applicator ball 79. Upon the flap 14 going out of contact with the ball 79, the spring 82 again biases the ball into a closed position on the seat 81 until the next flap raises the ball 79.

A modified form ofthe nozzle structure for the glue applicator is shown in FIGS. 17a and 17b. In this case, the nose piece 78 mounts a plurality of plungers 790, each of which is formed at its lower end with a ball head protruding out of the nose piece. Each of the bores 80 in which a plunger 79a is mounted is formed adjacent its lower end with an upwardly-facing shoulder 80a to provide a seat for an enlarged diameter upper end portion of the plunger and a spring 82 within the bore normally biases the plunger 79a into engagement with this shoulder. The upper end of the bore 80 is in fluid communication with the glue reservoir 61 in the manner indicated in FIG. 12. In addition, glue is communicated between the reservoir 61, and the plunger 79a by means of a bypass 84 which has its lower end in communication with the bore 80 immediately above the shoulder 80a. Thus, when the plunger 79a is biased onto the seat 80a, its enlarged diameter upper end acts as a valve to close the lower end of the passage 84. Upon the plunger 79a being raised upwardly by contact with a box blank flap passing thereunder, the lower end of the passage 84 opens into fluid communication with an annular groove 85 formed in the plunger 79a and which, in turn, communicates with a plurality of passages 7% extending axially downwardly in the plunger to join at the apex of the plunger 79a. As will be apparent, the glue then flows from the reservoir 61 downwardly through the pass-age 8 4, through the annular groove 85 and passages 79b to be applied as a stripe on the'upper surface of the box blank flap. In other respects, the structure shown in FIGS. 17a and 17b operates in the same manner as do the applicator balls 79.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that as a main body blank traverses a gluing station, the opposite edges of the blank underneath the glue applicators 21 are held down by the spring-loaded action of the applicator balls-in the nozzle 78. Additionally, a means is provided centrally of the body blank for firmly biasing the blank into smooth, sliding contactwith the rails 48 located centrally beneath the blank 10. This biasing means includes a bracket 86 affixed to the mid portion of the lower crossbar of the framework 56 that pivotally supports one end of a longitudinally split tubular clamp arm 87. Telescoped within the forward end of the arm 87 is a bar 88 that is formed with longitudinally-extending slot 89 therein to receive a clamping screw 90 extending through the tubular stud 98 mounted integrally with the end member as is slidably received in the slot 97 to key the strap 97 against turning out of the desired longitudinal alinement. The stud 98 is tapped to receive a threaded fastener, as indicated in FIG. 8, whereby the strap 96 may be clamped down in the desired adjusted position of its rearward end relative to the thrust axis of the mandrel 30.

As is shown in FIG. 1, the rear end of the strap 96 is generally Y-shaped comprising an upstanding flange 100 and a downwardly and rearwardly inclined flange 101. The flange 100 acts as an abutment to arrest forward movement ofa body blank 10 after it has been thrust off of the conveyor means 20. When a blank 10 hits the stop flange 100 it tends to rebound whereby it would be displaced out of properly indexed position but such rebound is prevented by the action of the holddown bars 92. In this connection, it should be noted that the conveyor chain 45 mounts a plurality of the drive lugs which are so spaced as to effect delivery of a body blank from the supply stack and into the gluing station periodically only rather than continuously. The arrangement is such that when a body blank 10 is positioned or indexed beneath the mandrel means there is no body blank 10 present in the gluing station whereby the holddown bars 94 are at rest upon the rails 48. Consequently, immediately after the trailing edge of a blank 10 has passed the forward ends 102 of the holddown bars 94, the bars drop into an indexing position at rest upon the pair of'rails 48. By adjustment of the clamping tube 37 arm 87 and threadedly engaging the opposite sidewalls thereof. By this means, the effective length of the arm comprising the tubular arm 87 and the bar 88 may be adjusted and secured in adjusted lengths by tightening the clamping screw 90.

The forward end of the bar 88 mounts a pivot shaft91 that is transversely disposed to the axis of the bar to pivotally mount at its opposite ends a pair of rearwardly extending holddown bars 92 which adjacent their free ends are interconnected by a cross pin 90. The rearward edges of the hold down bars 92 are rearwardly and upwardly inclined whereby upon coming into contact with the leading edge of a body blank 10 the hold down bars will ride upwardly over the blank. The hold down bars 92 are arranged in superimposed position with respect to the rails 48 so as to rest thereon between passages of consecutive body blanks 10.

The holddown means just described also constitute part of the means for indexing a body blank in registration with the mandrel means 30. Thus, as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the forward end member 34 of the framework 25 mounts a bar or strap 96 formed with a longitudinally-extending slot 97 that extends longitudinally of the framework 25 along the longitudinal axis of the machine. As is indicated in FIG. 1, a square with the clamping screw 90, the forward ends 102 of the bars are spaced from the stop flange 100 of the strap 96 a distance equal to the corresponding length of the body blank 10, these two abutments being equally spaced from the thrust axis of the mandrel means 30. As a result, the forward ends 102 of the holddown bars 92 positively prevent rebounding of the body blank 10 away from the stop flange 100.

It will be recalled that the edge guides for the body blank 10 comprise the vertical flanges of the elongated angle iron members 36 that extend longitudinally of the framework 25. Accordingly, when a body blank 10 has its leading edge in abutment with the vertical flange 100 of the strap 96 it is also properly indexed transversely of the machine in properly centered relation with respect to the mandrel means 30. When in this centered position, the body blank 10 has those edges adjacent the members 36 supported on upper edges of a pair of plate assemblies 105 such as are shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 8, each end magazine 39 includes a confronting pair of channels 106 adapted to carry a horizontal stack of the end panels 11. At their outer ends, the channels 106 are supported on a transversely disposed length of angle iron 107 detachably connected to the upper end of a rod 108 whose lower end is detachably secured to aconvenient portion of the framework 25, as indicated in FIG. 4. The inner ends of the pair of channels 106 are supported on the top flange of a member 113 hingedly connected to the top of the framework 25.

The pair of channels 106 can be adjusted horizontally to accommodate various widths of end panels 11 and they are also adjustable inwardly and outwardly relative to the framework 25 to accommodate various sizes of main body blanks 10. For this purpose, the angle member 107 is formed with a pair of longitudinally-extending slots 109 adjacent its opposite ends while a similar pair of slots 110 are formed in the top flange of the member 113 at the inner ends of the channels 106. Each of the channels 106 adjacent each of its ends is formed with a slot 111 extending longitudinally thereof and so disposed normally to theaxes ofthe corresponding slots 109 or 110. Each of the slots 111 is recessed, as indicated, to receive a flat head bolt fastener with a head of the bolt flush with a major surface of the horizontal flange of the channel 106.

Each of the magazines is provided with a means for biasing the stack of end panels 11 inwardly towards the mandrel. Referring to FIG. 21, a parallel pair of slide rods 114 are interconnected between the angle member 107 and the hinged member 113. Another angle member 115 is disposed transversely of the rods 114 and mounts or includes an integral pair of sleeves 116, each of which is slidably mounted on one of the rods 114. As shown in FIG. 22, the angle member 115 is formed with a pair of longitudinally-extending slots 117 in its portions outwardly of the bearings 116, in the vertical flange of the member, in order to adjustably mount a pair of uprights 118 on the member 115 by means of a threaded fastening means 119. Each of the uprights 118 at its upper end has an inwardly extending arm 120 secured thereto and, as is shown in FIG. 21, each of these arms mounts a spring-biased pawl 121 that is engageable with the rearmost of the stack of end panels 11 on the channels 106. .A spring 122 interconnected between the member 115 and the framework 25 at all times biases the member 115 inwardly of the machine whereby the stack of end panels 11 in front of the pawl 121 is fed towards the mandrel means.

It will be apparent that the pair of channels 106 may be removed from the hinged member 113 and the angle iron member and that the support rod 108 may also be removed from both the machine 25 and the member 107. Then, by virtue of the hinge connection of the plate 113, the support rods or slide rods 114 may be turned about a horizontal axis to fold alongside the main framework 25 which facilitates movement of the machine from one packing location to another.

As will appear in greater detail, the mandrel assembly 30 includes four cornerposts 155 which are arranged in two pairs on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the machine. Each of these pairs of corner posts 155 provides an abutment against which a stack of end blanks 11 is biased by the force of the spring 122 of each magazine 39, as indicated in FIG. 18. It will be observed from this figure that the particular end wall blank 11 about to be removed from the stack in the magazine protrudes beyond the inner ends of the channels 106 but is yieldably held against dropping by a pair of pawls 123, there being one pawl connected to an end ofa channel 106.

As is shown in FIG. 19, each of the pawls 123 is pivotally mounted in a bracket 124 that is secured to the outside wall of the corresponding channel 106. A torsion spring 125 is interconnected between the pawl and the bracket whereby the pawl is normally biased with a cam tooth of the lower end thereof beneath one corner of the end blank 11. However, upon the end blank being driven downwardly by the mandrel means 30 the pawls 123 turn outwardly to release the end blank until one end has been removed therefrom whereupon the pawls turn back into place to support the next end blank 11 against displacement.

FIG. 18 also shows the manner in which the posts 155 of the mandrel means 30 are each adapted to deliver one end blank 11 ata time to a body blank waiting therebelow. Thus, the cornerpost 155 shown has an elongated bracket 126 secured to the inward face thereof by means of fasteners 127. It will be noted that this face of the cornerpost is provided with a plurality of spaced tapped bores, each of which is adapted to threadably receive the fasteners 127 whereby the bracket 126 can be adjusted to accommodate different heights of end blanks 10. A block 128 is secured to the bracket 126 at its midpoint and in its lower end threadedly receives a bolt 129. And S-shaped pawl device 130 is formed with an elongated hold through its midportion through which the stem of the bolt 129 loosely passes and a spring 131 biases the midportion of the S-shaped pawl against the lower end of the block 128. The pawl 130 thus rocks about the lower end of the block 128. At its upper end, the pawl 130 is formed with a hold for the loose reception of another bolt 132 that is also threadedly mounted in the block 128 to adjustably limit the extent to which the lower end of the pawl 130 may protrude beyond the cornerpost 155.

It will be observed from FIG. 18 that the pawl 130 is adjusted to a position wherein the distance between its lower end and the lower end of the corresponding cornerpost 155 is the same as the height of the end wall blank 11 to be delivered. Thus, upon descent of the mandrel means 30, a pair of the pawls 130 engage the upper edge of an end blank 11 to thrust it downwardly as the pawls 123 of the magazine are carmned out of the way by the lower edge of the blank. Conversely, upon rising movement of the corner posts 155, as the lower end of a pawl engages the lower edge of the next end blank 11 in the magazine, the pawl is biased inwardly against the force of the spring 131 until it passes above the upper edge of the blank. Thereafter, the pawl 130 returns to the normal position shown in FIG. 18.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the superstructure 29 on the frame 25 for supporting the mandrel means 30 includes four rigid uprights 135 that are rigidly interconnected at their upper ends by a transverse pair of angle iron members 136 and a pair of angle iron side members 137. To support the mandrel assembly for vertical reciprocation, a pair of heavy plates 138 are rigidly affixed in horizontally disposed position to the mid points of the crossbars 136 to extend inwardly towards one another. The superstructure 29 includes another pair of crossbars 139 parallel to the upper crossbars 136 which, at their midportions, also mount a pair of heavy plates 14-13 in vertical alinement with the upper pair of plates 138. As is shown in H6. 9, the plates 133 and 140 are braced at their inner ends by four vertically extending angle iron members 141 to define two similar rigid frameworks for the support of the mandrel assembly, each comprising a pair of the angles 141, an upper plate 138 and a lower plate 140 in combination with the adjacent framing structure of the superstructure 29. As is also shown in FIG. 9, a clearance is provided between these two rigid frameworks for the actuating mechanism for the mandrel.

As in FIG. 9, each of the upper plates 13% along its inner edge mounts a bearing structure 1412 to support main bearings 143 ofa crankshaft generally indicated by the numeral 144. A pair of crank arms 145 extend radially from the bearings 143 and at their outer ends'mount a bearing pin 146 that supports one end of a connecting rod 147. The lower end of this connecting rod has a plain bearing connection with a wristpin 148 which is supported at its opposite ends and a spaced pair of lugs 149. These lugs, in turn, are rigidly affixed to the upper surface of a substantially rectangularly shaped mandrel plate 150.

Adjacent each ofits corners, the mandrel plate 150 is rigidly interconnected to the lower end of an elongated vertically-extending rod 151. As is indicated in FIG. 8, each of the four rods 151 is vertically alined with corner areas of the upper plates 138 and of the lower plates 140, each of these corner areas being formed with a bore to slidably receive the corresponding rod 151. In addition, as is shown in FIG. 9, a plain bearing 152 is rigidly secured to the underside of the lower plates 140 at each inner corner thereof to contain a supply of lubricant for the rods 151. As will be apparent, upon actuation of the crankshaft 144, the mandrel assembly will be reciprocated along a vertical axis.

The mandrel plate 150 carries four corner-forming members or posts 155 which can be adjusted to conform to the size of the bottom panel 12 of the particular body blank 10 being formed. The corner members 155 are of rectangular crosssectional configuration so as to fit within the corners of the box being formed to serve as abutments against which the folding operation takes place.

The members 155 are adjustably mounted on the mandrel plate 150 in the manner shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. Thus, as is shown in FIG. 10, a clamping plate 156 is connected to and under the mandrel plate 150 by means of a plurality of threaded fastener means 157. At opposite sides, a pair of shaped plates 158 are clamped between the clamping plate 156 and the mandrel plate 150, the plates 158 being formed with slots 159 through which the fasteners 157 extend. Thus, when the fasteners 157 are loosened, the pair of plates 158 can be shifted laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the machine whereby to position the two pairs of posts 155 at opposite sides into the desired position.

As is shown in FIG. 11, each cornerpost 155 adjacent its lower end has a tongue 160 extending sidewardly therefrom to engage the underside of one of the plates 158. Another clamping plate 161 is secured by a plurality of fasteners 162 to and under the clamping plate 158. The tongue 160 is formed with a slot 163 extending longitudinally thereof through which a fastener 162 passes. Accordingly, when the threaded fastener 162 is loosened the tongue 160 may be slidably adjusted relative to the clamping plates 158 and 161.

Vertical alinement of the four cornerposts or members 155 is maintained by adjustable means for each mounted on top of the superstructure 129. Thus, referring to FIG. 9, it will be seen that each of the cornerposts 155 at its upper end is provided with an integral extension 165 of circular cross section, each of which is axially slidably mounted through a bore formed in one end of an arm 166. Referring to FIG. 8, it will be seen that each of the arms 166 at its outer end is formed with a longitudinally-extending slot 167 through which passes a threaded fastener means 168 by means of which the arm is clamped to the upper flange of one of the crossmembers 136. As will be apparent, upon loosening of the threaded fastener means 168, each arm may be swung pivotally about the fastener and also may be adjusted radially with respect to the fastener to the desired adjusted position after which the fastener means 168 is tightened.

The mandrel means 30 just described is also driven by the motor 28. Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the framework 25 along one side rotatably mounts a countershaft 170 in parallelism to the output shaft 41 of the motor. At the end of the countershaft 170 adjacent the motor 28, a chain and sprocket means 171 drivably interconnects the countershaft to the output shaft 41 of the motor whereby the torque of the motor may be transmitted to a sprocket 172 drivably connected to the countershaft in a plane adjacent the rear side of the superstructure 29.

Referring to FIG. 8, it will be seen that an idler shaft 173 is mounted along the side of the framework 25 opposite to the countershaft 170 and in parallelism therewith. The shaft 173 drivably mounts another sprocket 174 disposed within a common plane with the sprocket 172 and also in the same plane as a sprocket 175 mounted on top of the superstructure 29 coaxially with the main bearings of the crankshaft 144. A sprocket chain 176best seen in FIG. 4, drivably interconnects all three of the sprockets 172, 174, and 175. By this means the torque of the motor 28 is transmitted to the crankshaft 144 to vertically reciprocate the mandrel means 30. While the stroke of the mandrel means 30 is not adjustable the stroke length is sufficient to handle a wide variety of depths of boxes.

The pair of plate assemblies 105 are adjustable transversely of the machine by adjustment of the edge guide members 36. As is shown in FIG. 20, each of the plate assemblies 1051s mounted on a strap member 180 that is T-shape in plan form and, as indicated in FIG. 6, the upper edge of the horizontal leg of the member 180 is secured to the underside of the horizontal flange of the corresponding member 36 as by welding 181. Member 180 includes a vertically disposed leg and a horizontally disposed leg 182 at the lower end of the vertical leg. As is indicated in FIG. 7, a slot 183 is formed longitudinally of the lower leg 182 to receive a fastener means 184 which also passes through the horizontal flange of a frame member 185. Accordingly, upon movement of the edge guide member 36 to the desired position of adjustment, the corresponding plate assembly 105 is correspondingly adjusted and after such adjustment the plate assembly may be locked into place by tightening of the fastener means 184. I

Referring to FIG. 5, each of the plate assemblies 105 comprises a pair of end plates 167, a central plate 168, and a generally U-shaped pusher plate 169. As seen in FIG. 21, both of the end plates 167 are rigidly affixed to the horizontal leg of the member 180, as by a plurality of fastener means 190, and the center plate 168 is also fastened to the horizontal leg of the member 180, as by fastener means 191. The pusher plate 169, however, is mounted for movement towards and away from the member 180. FIG. 7 shows the retracted position of the pusher plate 169 flush against the member 180. It will also be observed from this figure that the pusher plate 169 is of a material thickness substantially the same as the thickness of the pair of plates 167 but of lesser thickness than the center plate 168. However, upon actuation of the pusher plate 169, it is moved out of a common plane with a pair of plates 167 to bring its face substantially flush with the face of the center plate 168. Brie'fly, and as is indicated in FIGS. 7 and 7a, this extension of the pusher plate 169 is for the purpose of pressing the side flaps 15, which have been glue-coated, into firm engagement with the corresponding sides of the end panel 11.

The pusher plate 169 of each assembly 105 is cyclically reciprocated by a powered cam means. Referring to FIG. 8, it will be observed that the countershaft 170 and the parallel shaft 173 on the other side of the machine both extend to positions behind the pair of plate assemblies 105. The torque of both of these shafts is transmitted to the corresponding cam means in the manner shown in FIG. 6. Thus, the countershaft 170, for example, serves as a bearing for a sector 195 that is formed with a circularly-extending slot 1% adjacent its periphery. The sector 195 is positioned in confronting relationship to an upright frame member of the framework 25 so that by means of a threaded fastener means 197 the sector 195 may be affixed in any desired adjusted position within the range of the slot 196. The countershaft 170 also drivably mounts a gear 198 that is meshed with an idler gear 199 that is carried by the sector 195 and journaled adjacent the periphery of the sector.

Referring now to FIG. 21, it will be seen that the center plate 168 on its backside mounts a spaced pair of bearings 200 which journal a shaft 201 on which another gear 202 is drivably secured. The gear 202 is indicated in phantom outline in FIG. 6 also and from FIG. 6 it will be seen that the sector 195 is adjusted after adjustment of the corresponding plate assembly to bring the idler gear 109 into meshing engagement with the gear 202. Reverting to FIG. 21, the shaft 201 at its opposite ends mount a pair of roller carns 203, each of which confronts a cam pad 204 affixed to the backside of the pusher plate 169. Both of the roller cams 203 are mounted in the same angular relationship to their supporting shaft 201 so that upon each revolution of the shaft 201, the pusher plate 169 is thrust inwardly, as indicated in FIG. 7a.

Each of the pusher plates 169 is automatically retracted by means of a plurality of spring-biased pins or rods. Three such rods 205 are shown in FIG. 21 and the manner in which they are interconnected to the pusher plate is best seen in FIG. 7. Thus, each of the rods 205 is connected at one end to the pusher plate 169 to extend rearwardly through a bore formed through the support member and thence through a bore formed through a bushing 206 that is affixed to the backside of the member 180. The other end of the rod 205 fixedly mounts a collar 207 that serves as an abutment for one end of a coil spring 208 whose other end abuts the adjacent of the bushing 206. In this fashion, the pusher plate 169 is normally biased into flush engagement with the member 180 but yields to the action of the roller cams 203 so that the pusher plate is cyclically thrust inwardly towards the blocks being formed.

FIG. 5 shows, in solid outline, a cross section of a main body blank 10 as supported by the upper edges of the pair of plate assemblies 105 and just prior to contact by the lower ends of the four cornerposts 155. The same relationship of the parts at the same moment is shown in FIG. 6 which additionally shows one of the end panels 11 at the moment of engagement of its lower edge 16 with the body blank 10. Assuming now that the mandrel means 30 has descended an additional increment corresponding to the width of the flaps 14, approximately, the parts of the box will now be in the relative positions illustrated as station C of FIG. 1. Thus, the flaps 14 at opposite ends of the bottom panel 12 will have been fully folded through 90 and into adhesive contact with the end blanks 11 while the glue-coated flaps 15 of the side panels 13 will have been only partially folded inwardly. This differential folding of the flaps 14 and 15 is due to the difference in thicknesses of the center plate 168 as compared to the pair of plates 167 and the plate.

169, as shown in FIG. 7. Because of the greater thickness of the center plate 168, it will have effected the full folding movement of the flaps 14. As the pusher plate 169 is now in retracted position, its lesser thickness and the lesser thickness of the pair of end plates 167 leaves a sufficient clearance with respect to the end wall blank 11 so that the flaps 15 are caused to be only partially folded. This clearance is maintained until such time as the side panels 13 have been turned to a fully erect position, i.e., 90 with respect to the bottom panel 12, at which time the cam rollers 203 effect inward movement of the pusher plate 169 to force the flaps 15 into adhesive contact with the end blank 11, as shown in FIG. 7a. Thus, prior to the inward movement of the pusher plate 169, the clearance between the end blankll and the pusher plate is maintained so that the adhesiveon the flaps 15 is not wiped across the confronting surface areas of the end blank 11.

FIG. shows the forming rollers 2.3 which assist in turning the side panels 13 upwardly. As is indicated, each of the rollers 23 is mounted at one end of an arm 210 that is formed with a longitudinally-extending slot 211 that receives a threaded fastener means 212 by means of which the arm 210 can be clamped against the pusher plate 169. As will be apparent, with this arrangement upon loosening of the fastener means 212, each roller 23 can be adjusted angularly and radially with respect to the fastener. It will, of course, be understood that the positions of the rollers 23 indicated in FIG. 5 are for illustration only and do not necessarily reflect the proper positioning of these rollers for making the particular box illustrated in the FIG. In this connection it will be ob served that the U-shaped area of the pusher plate 169, i.e., the area approximately bounded by the center plate 163 and the vertical edges of the pair of plates 167 or the area of the arms of the U, approximates the variation in corresponding dimensions of boxes which can be formed. For example, the rollers 23 may be positioned at different elevations immediately adjacent the inner edges of the arms of the U so as to form a box of about the width of the horizontal dimension of the fixed plate 168. At the other extreme, the rollers 23 may be positioned at different elevations relative to the fasteners 212 with their innermost peripheries adjacent the outer edges of the arms of the U.

In any event, it will be understood from FIG. 5 that as the mandrel means thrusts the body blank 10 and end blanks 11 downwardly, the rollers 23 will effect folding of the side panels 13 to the fully erect position after which all of the glued flaps 14 and 15 will be adhesively secured to the end panels or blanks 11. Thereafter, upon withdrawal of the mandrel means the box is held between the pair of plate assemblies 105 by a pair of stripper pawls 215. As is shown in FIG. 5, the center plate 168 is formed with a central vertically-extending slot 216 that is coaxially alined with a central vertically-extending slot 217 formed within the vertical leg of the member 180 that is behind the plate 168. The stripper pawl 215 is axially slidably mounted within a housing 218 that is of noncircular configuration and of a size to be received in and slidably longitudinally of the slot 216 but which is too large to pass through the slot 217. While not shown, it is to be understood that the pawl 215, in the portion within the housing 218, has a stop means to prevent the pawl being thrust fully outwardly from the housing 218 by the spring means (not shown) contained within the housing. The pawl housing 218 extends rearwardly through the slot 217 and is provided with a threaded stud to receive a nut 219 shown in FIG. 6 by means ofwhich the housing can be clamped in any desired position along the length of the slot 216.

Referring to FIG. 6, it will be seen that when the end blank 11 shown in cross section is thrust downwardly by the mandrel means 30, the spring-biased pawl 215 by virtue of its cam face will be cammed inwardly to a retracted position by engagement with the corresponding corner of the box formed by the flap I4 folding around the lower edge 16 of the end panel 11. Upon the upper edge of the panel 11 passing the pawl 215, the spring effects extension of the pawl to a position where the box is held down upon withdrawal of the mandrel means from the formed box. After complete withdrawal of the lower ends of the mandrel cornerposts 15$, the box will drop by gravity onto belt conveyor 31.

As is indicated in FIG. 3, the conveyor 31 includes a pair of rigid side rails 220 which rotatably mount a transversely disposed pair of shafts 221 at opposite ends. Each of these shafts coaxially mounts a roller 222 and an endless belt 223 is drivably mounted on these rollers. However, the shaft 221 at the input end of the conveyor also coaxially drivably supports a gear 224 that is adapted to mesh with a gear 225 that is coaxially drivably mounted on a shaft 226 mounted in and extending transversely of the framework 225. The shaft 226 also coaxially drivably mounts a sprocket 227 which, in turn, is interconnected by means of an endless chain 228 to n sprocket carried on the output shaft 43 of the gear box 62.

At its output end, the conveyor 31 may be provided with a pivotally mounted standard 230 to support the outward end of the conveyor at an elevated position relative to the input and as is shown in FIG. 3, a latch 231 is provided at both of the opposite sides or side rails 22% of the conveyor assembly, the latches 231 being pivotally mounted so as to be hooked over the shaft 226 ofthe framework 25.

Assuming that the storage bin 40 is loaded with main body blanks 10 and that the end magazines 39 are loaded with end wall blanks 11, a cycle of operation of the machine is as fol- I lows:

The mandrel means 30 and conveyor means 21. are synchronized so that for each cycle of the crankshaft 1M1 a single body blank 111 is delivered into the forming station C of FIG. 1, in the following manner. As the motor 28 drives the chain 45, one of the lugs 46 on the chain engages a trailing edge of the lowermost body blank Ill in the bin 40. This blank is then carried forwardly along the conveyor means 20 to pass through the gap under the plate 55 at the forward wall of the bin 40 to be carried through the gluing station at B. In this movement, the opposite edges of the body blank are slidably supported by the track members 53 whereby the flaps 14 and 15 penetrate the gap between the nozzle 78 of the pair of glue applicators 21 and the corresponding rail 53, the applicators having been adjusted vertically to a position in which the gap between the applicator balls 79 and the top surface of the corresponding rail 53 is less than the thickness of the body blank, the applicator balls 79 are depressed to lift off their seats 81 and contacted by a leading edge of either a flap 15 or a flap 14. Consequently, the hot glue is delivered under pressure of the gear pumps 64 in the form of a plurality of stripes of glue to the upper surface of each flap. When the trailing edge of a flap leaves the gap under the applicator ball 79, the balls automatically close under the urging of the fluid pressure and springs 82.

A body blank 10 is also held down in the gluing station E in its midportion by the action of the holddown bars 92. Thus, before the blank enters the station B the holddown bars 92 are at rest on the upper surfaces of the pair of track members 48. Upon the leading edge of a body blank coming into contact with the sloped rear ends 94 of the holddown bars, the holddown bars are lifted to ride up onto the upper surface of the body blank 10. When the trailing edge of the body blank 11) passes the forward ends 102 of the holddown bars, the holddown bars immediately drop back into flush contact with the track members 48.

From an examination of FIG. 1, it will be observed that the position of the box parts indicated at C is slightly beneath the plane of the body blank 10 as indicated in station E, and represents the first folding operation in the forming station. Immediately prior to the position C, the main body blank 10 is first indexed above the forming station in substantially the same plane it occupied when in the gluing station B. Thus, as is shown in FIG. 5, the pair of plate assemblies 105 have their upper edges disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane as the upper surfaces of the rails 53. As is shown in FIG. 20, the pair of end magazines 37 are disposed at a higher level than the upper edges of the plate assemblies 105. Thus, at the moment when a main body blank is in indexed position on the upper edges of the plate assemblies 105, the pair of end blanks 11 to be delivered for assembly are above their intended body blank, having their upper edges then engaged by the spring-biased pawls 130 of the corner members 155, as shown in FIG. 18. Because of this clearance between lower edges of the end blanks 11 and the glue-coated surfaces of the flaps l4 and 15, no wiping of the glue on the flaps by lower edges 16 of the end wall blanks can occur.

The body blank 10 is held in indexed position above the station C by the action of the abutment flange 100 and the forward ends 102 of the holddown bars 92. Now, as the mandrel means 30 descends, the pair of end blanks 100 are moved downwardly until their lower edges 16 engage the upper surface of the body blank 10. This position is shown in FIG. 6, the box parts being shown in section. FIG. 6 also shows, in phantom outline, the relative position of the box parts in the station C, as depicted in FIG. 1. Thus, upon additional movement of the mandrel means 30 for an increment corresponding to the width of the flap 14, the flap 14 has been folded 90 to its final position whereby the adhesive bond between it and the corresponding end wall blank 11 has taken place. At the same time, the flaps of the side panels 13 have been only partially folded so that the adhesive thereon has not yet come in contact with the end wall blanks. This differential folding of the flaps 14 and 15 is due to the differential thicknesses of the plates making up the plate assembly 105 and is shown in FIG. 7-.

As the mandrel means 30 descends further, the stripper pawls 215 of the plate assemblies 105 are cammed out of the way by the already formed lower edges of the box. As the mandrel continues its descent, the forming rollers 23, having their confronting peripheries adjusted to positions corresponding to the final dimension of the box, cause the side panels 13 to be cammed upwardly to vertical positions by the time the mandrel has reached the bottom of its stroke. This corresponds to the position D shown in FIG. 6 and in FIG. 1, at which time the stripper pawls 215 pop out to engage the upper edge of the corresponding end wall 11. At this moment, the cam rollers 203 engage the cam pads 204 behind each of the plate assemblies 105 whereby the pusher plate 169 is thrust inwardly. As a result, the last forming step occurs when the glue-coated flaps 15 are firmly pressed by the pusher plate against the end wall blanks 11, as shown in FIG. 7a, which also shows the manner in which each cornerpost 155 serves as an abutment against which the pressing of the flap occurs.

As the mandrel rises, the stripper pawls 215 retain the box in the forming position D to free it from the mandrel. At the same time, the pusher plates 169 of the pair of plate assemblies 105 withdraw from contact with the opposite ends of the box which then drops by gravity onto the waiting belt conveyor 31. After the lower end of the mandrel means 30 has risen above the plane of the conveyor means 20, another cycle commences.

While the invention has herein been shown and described in what is presently conceived to be its most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace equivalent devices and processes.

Iclaim:

1. In a boxmaking machine, the combination comprising:

an elongated rigid framework;

a pair of elongated rigid edge guide members adjustably secured at their opposite ends to opposite ends of said framework whereby said members can be secured in parallelism in a plurality of positions equally spaced on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of said framework;

supply bin means at one end of said framework comprising an opposed pair of parallel vertically disposed walls, each of which is affixed at a lower edge to one of said edge guide members to be coadjustable therewith;

a pair of oppositely disposed glue applicator means, spaced longitudinally from said supply bin means, each of which is secured to one of said edge guide members to be coadjustable therewith; and

a pair of parallel vertically disposed plates adjacent the other end of said framework, each of which is secured at an upper end thereof to one of said edge guide members to be coadjustable therewith.

2. A machine as in claim 1 including:

a power means mounted on said framework;

a conveyor means mounted along the longitudinal centerline of said framework between said edge guide members and driveably interconnected to said power means; and

a pump means for each of said glue applicator means driveably interconnected to said power means.

3. A machine as in claim 1 including:

a superstructure rigidly secured to said framework at a position overlying said pair of plates;

a mandrel mounted in said superstructure for vertical reciprocation of its lower end into and out of the space between said plates;

a pair of vertically disposed pusher plates, each of which is interconnected with one of said first pair of plates for reciprocal movement of one surface of said pusher plate into and out ofa plane in common with one surface of the corresponding first plate;

a power means mounted on said framework;

means drivably interconnecting said mandrel to said power means to effect reciprocation of said mandrel; and

means drivably interconnecting said pair of pusher plates to said power means for effecting reciprocation of said pusher plates;

said mandrel and said pair of pusher plates being synchronized to effect opposite inward movement of said pusher plates when said mandrel reaches a lower end of its stroke.

4. A machine as in claim 3, wherein:

said mandrel includes a mandrel plate at its lower end that is horizontally disposed and four cornerposts that are rigidly interconnected to said mandrel plate by a meansto adjust said posts towards and away from vertical planes including said first plates.

5. In a boxmaking machine, the combination comprising:

an elongated rigid framework;

a pair of parallel, elongated, rigid edge guides connected at opposite ends to opposite ends of said framework;

a track means positioned between and parallel to said pair of edge guides to slidably support a blank for movement through said edge guides; and 1 an elongated, rigid holddown mechanism connected to said framework at a position between said edge guides to ex-' tend longitudinally thereof above said track means, said mechanism being freely pivotally connected at a rearward end to said framework to normally depend into contact with said track means or a body blank sliding over said track means in order to firmly bias a blank into sliding contact with said track means, said holddown mechanism including at least one elongated holddown bar having a forward end pivotally connected to the forward end of an arm that has its rear end freely pivotally connected to said framework at a point spaced above said track means, said bar extending longitudinally rearwardly from its pivotal connection to a rear end having a cam face adapted to override a leading edge of a blank sliding along said track means whereby a blank is slidably held down beneath a lower edge of said holddown bar.

6. A machine as in claim 5, including:

a conveyor means positioned between said edge guides and adapted to advance body blanks along said track means at spaced intervals such that said holddown bar is alternately disposed on said track means or on top of a blank sliding thereunder; and

a fixed abutment in spaced relation to the forward end of said holddownbar and longitudinally alined therewith that is positioned and arranged to arrest further travel of a blank whose trailing edge has passed the forward end of said holddown bar, the spacing between said abutment and said forward end of said bar being equal to a corresponding length of the body blank whereby said holddown bar is permitted to come to rest on top of said track means, when a body blank is positioned between said forward end of said bar and said abutment, to prevent rebounding of a blank from said abutment.

7. A machine as in claim 6 including a mandrel means supported in said framework for vertical reciprocation along a vertical axis that is equally spaced from said abutment and said forward end of said holddown bar whereby said abutment and said forward end of said holddown bar serve to index a body blank for forming by said mandrel as said mandrel descends.

8. In a box-forming machine, the combination comprising:

a rigid framework;

a mandrel means mounted in said framework for vertical reciprocation, said mandrel means including four vertically-extending cornerposts that are rigidly interconnected adjacent their lower ends against lateral displacement out of vertical positions; plurality of bearing means mounted in said framework, each of which vertically slidably guides an upper end portion of one of said cor'nerposts; and a crankshaft mounted on said framework above said man drel means and drivably connected to said mandrel means by a connecting rod to effect vertical reciprocation of said mandrel means.

9. in a box-forming machine, the combination comprising:

a rigid framework;

a mandrel means mounted in said framework for vertical reciprocation, said mandrel means including four vertically-extending cornerposts that are rigidly interconnected adjacent their lower ends against lateral displacement out of vertical positions;

a plurality of bearing means mounted in said framework,

each of which vertically slidably guides an upper end portion of one of said cornerposts;

a means mounted on said framework to effect vertical reciprocation of said mandrel means, a mandrel plate at the lower end of said mandrel means to which said posts are rigidly interconnected;

a plurality of elongated rods affixed at their lower ends to said mandrel plate to extend vertically upwardly therefrom; and

a pair of bearing means for each of said rods, the bearing means of each pair being rigidly mounted on said framework in vertically spaced-apart relationship to vertically slidably mount said rods 10. In a box-forming machine, the combination comprising:

a rigid framework;

a mandrel means mounted in said framework for vertical reciprocation, said mandrel means including four verti- Cally-extending cornerposts that are rigidly intercom nected adjacent their lower ends against lateral displacement out of vertical positions;

a plurality of bearing means mounted in said framework, each of which vertically slidably guides an upper end portion of one of said cornerposts;

a means mounted on said framework to effect vertical reciprocation of said mandrel means,

a mandrel plate at the lower end of said mandrel means to which said posts are rigidly interconnected;

an adjustment means for each of said posts mounted on said mandrel plate that is adapted and arranged to adjust the spacing between adjacent ones of said posts to a plurality of relatively fixed positions; and V an adjustment means for each of said bearing means that is mounted on said framework and that is adapted and arranged to adjust the spacing between adjacent ones of S81 upper end portions of said posts to a p urality of relatively fixed positions.

11. A machine as in claim 8 that includes:

horizontally disposed means at a level intermediate the op posite ends of the vertical stroke of said mandrel means adapted and arranged to index a body blank in centered relationship to the axis of said mandrel means;

a spaced pair of vertically disposed parallel plates between which the lower end of said mandrel means is receivable and positioned beneath the level of said horizontally disposed index means; and

a spaced pair of rollers mounted on each of said plates in a predetermined spaced relationship adapted and arranged to effect folding of the side panels of a body blank therebetween as the body blank is thrust downwardly by said mandrel means.

12. In a box-forming machine, the combination comprising:

a rigid framework;

a spaced-apart pair of vertically disposed parallel first plates affixed to said framework and adapted to receive a mandrel means for forming a box between said plates;

a pair of spaced-apart vertically disposed and parallel pusher plates, each ofwhich is interconnected with one of said first pair of plates for reciprocal movement of one surface of said pusher plate into and out of a plane in common with one surface ofthe corresponding first plate; and

a camming means interposed between said framework and each of said pusher plates for effecting reciprocation of said pusher plates.

13. A machine as in claim 12, that includes:

a mandrel mounted in said framework for vertical reciprocation of its lower end into and out of the space between said plates; and

a power means mounted on said framework and drivably interconnected to said mandrel and to said camming means by a chain and sprocket means adapted to effect opposite inward movement of said pusher plates when said man drel means reaches a lower end ofits stroke 

